Starter



Jan. 29, 1929. 1,700,694

D. T. BROWN LEE STARTER Filed April 25, 1927 0/74 M12 TBeomvug,

Patented Jan. 29', 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAIJMAIB, T. BROWNLEE, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO I4. S.DEVICES CORPORATION, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ACORPORATION OF INDIANA.I

sumn'rnn.

Application filed April 25, 1927. Serial No. 186,251.

It is the object of my invention to produce. a starter drive,particularly adaptable for use in connection with automobile engines.

More specifically, it is my object to produce 5 such a drive in whichtwo gears are moved axially into mesh to connect the starter motor tothe engine.

I accomplish the above object by mounting a starter motor so that itsarmature shaft is parallel to the axis of rotation of a gear whichrotates with the engine crank shaft, and on the armature of the. startermotor I-mount 'a pinion which may be connected to the shaft through anoverrunning clutch and which is axially slidable on the shaft into andout of engagement with the gear which rotates with the engine. I providean operating means for jointly closing the starter-motor circuit and formoving the pinion into engagement with its associated gear.

The accompanying drawing illustrates my invention; Fig. 1 is alongitudinal section through my starter drive with the parts in theposition they occupy after the engine has begun to run under its ownpower; and Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but with the parts in theposition occupied when the starter-motor is not in operation.

In carrying out my invention I mount a suitable electric starter motor10 in such a position that its armature shaft 11 is parallel with theaxis of rotation of a gear 12 which is rotatable with the engine. On thearmature 11 is mounted a collar 14, such collar being axially slidableon the shaft but rotatable therewith. Preferably, the armature shaft isprovided with splines 15 and the collar 14 with a'splined hole.

Axially movable with the collar 14 is a sleeve 16 which rotatably/supports a pinion 17 adapted to engage the gear 12. The pinion 17 has anextended hub 18 which terminates close to the collar 14, the adjacentfaces of the hub and collar being .provided with ratchet teeth 19. Thepinion 17 and hub 18 are axially slidable on the sleeve 16 so that thehub may be moved into and out of engagement with the collar 14. Thisaxial movement is limited in one direction by engagement of the hub 18with the collar 14, and it may be limited in the other direction bymeans of 'an abutment in the form of a small collar 21 held in place onthe sleeve 16 by means of a split spring ring 22 which lies in anannular groove in the sleeve.

To prevent accidental displacement of the hub 17 from position, ateither end of its limited movement, the hub 18- may be pro-,

vided with an inwardly-spring-pressed pin 24 which co-operates witheither oneof a 1 pair of annular grooves 25 on the outer surface of thesleeve 16. This pin 24 insures that the ratchet teeth of the hub 18 andcollar 14 will be in engagement until the vengine has begun to rununder. itsown power; and after the engine has become self-operative andthe clutch teeth disengaged, the pin 24 definitely prevents theirre-engagement until after the pinion 17 has been moved out of engagementwith the.

gear 12, thus preventing the injury to the clutch teeth which wouldresult if they should come together while the pinion 17 is being drivenat a high rate of speed by the engine.

Axial shifting of the pinion 17 into engagemen't with the gear 12 ispreferably accomplished by. the same means which operates to close thecircuit of the startermotor 10. This operating means may conveniently bea lever in the form of a foot pedal 27 which is pivotally mounted on ashaft 28 carried by a housing 29 which surrounds the starter drive. Thecircuit of the starter motor 10 is controlled by a switch 31 having aswitch button 32 located in the plane of movement of the pedal 27 andadapted to be depressed to close the startermotor circuit when the pedal27 is depressed.

Mounted on the shaft 28 is a yoke 34 which cooperates with an annulargroove 35 in the collar 14 so that the collar will be -moved axially ofthe shaft 11 when the yoke 34 is moved about its axis of pivotalmounting. The pedal 27 and yoke 34 are preferably interconnected throughsome yielding means such as a torsion's ring 36, so that movement of thepedal 2? to depress the switch button 32 will not be prevented if theteeth 17 and gear 12 should meet in end-to-end engagement which wouldinterfere with axial movement of the collar 14.

A spring 37 acts between the yoke 34 and some stationary point and tendsto swing the yoke about its axis of pivotal mounting in a direction tomove the pinion 17 out of engagement with the gear 12. The yoke 34 hasmountedvon it an arm 40 the end of which is provided with a boss 41adapted to be received within a groove 42 in the hub 18 of the pinion17. The arm 40 has an extension 43 which is adapted to engage astationary abutment 44 when the yoke 34 approaches the limit of, itsmovement under ,the influence of the spring 37.

When the starter motor is not being operated, the parts of the driveassume the positions shown in Fig. 2. Under these circumstan es, theratchet teeth 19 of the collar 14 and gear hub 18 are engaged and thepinion 17 is out of engagement with the gear 12. If now the pedal 27 isdepressed the yoke 34 moves in a counter-clockwise direction about theshaft 28 and forces the pinion 17 into engagement with the gear 12.Simultaneously, the switch button 32 is depressed, thus causing rotationof the armature shaft 11 of the starter motor. This rotation of theshaft 11 is transmitted through the collar 14 and ratchet teeth 19 tothe pinion 17 which rotates the gear 12 and cranks the engine. When theengine begins to operate under its own power, the gear 12 rotates morerapidly that it did during the crankin operation with the result thatthe pinion it and its hub 18 are rotated more rapidly than is the collar14. Relative rotation of the collar 14 and gear hub 18 thus produce.results in axial movement of the pinion and hub 18 on the sleeve 16under the influence of the ratchet teeth 19,

and causes the ratchet teeth of the hub to be disengaged from those ofthe collar 14. This breaks the driving connection between the armatureshaft 11 and the gear 12 and permits each to rotate freely under theinfluence of the power-sources to which they are respectively connected.

Upon the release of the pedal 27, the spring 37 operates to move thepinion 17 axially out of engagement with the gear 12, as the yoke 34approaches the limit of its movement under the influence of the spring37, the extension 43 on the lever 40 engages the stationary abutment 44and moves the.

pinion hub 18 axially on the sleeve 16 to reengage the ratchet teeth 19which were disengaged when the engine began to run under its own power.

Should the teeth of the pinion 17 meet those of the gear 12 inend-to-end engagement as the inion is moved toward the gear,'the yieling connection between the pedal 27 and yoke 34 permits furtherdepression of the pedal to close the starter motor switch 31. Theresultant rotation of the pinion 17 carries its teeth out of theirend-to-end engagement with those of the gear 12 and permits the pinionto move into intermeshing engagement with the gear under the forceexerted on the yoke 34 by the spring 36.

I claim as my invention v 1. An engine starting device, comprising agear connected to an engine, a starter mo- 1 tor, a starter-motor-drivenshaft, a clutch member rotatable with said shaft, a second clutchmember, said two clutch members having co-operating ratchet clutchteeth, said two clutch members being arranged to have a limited relativeaxial movement whereby they may be engaged and disengaged, a pinionrotatable with said second clutch member, said first clutch member beingslidable on said shaftto move said pinion into and out of mesh with saidgear, means tending to hold said tyvo clutch mem bers either in or outof engagement, a switch for said starter motor, control means forjointly closing said switch and moving said pinion into mesh with saidgear, a spring for moving said pinion out of mesh with said gear uponrelease of said control means, and means for engaging said two clutchmembers when said pinion is moved out of mesh with said gear by saidspring.

2. An engine starting device, comprising a gear connected to an engine,a starter motor, a starter-motor-driven shaft, a clutch member rotatablewith said shaft, a second clutch member, said two clutch members havingco-operating ratchet clutch teeth, said two clutch membersbeing arrangedto have a limited relative axial movement whereby they may be engagedand disengaged, a pinion rotatable with saidsecond clutch member, saidfirst clutch member being slidable on said shaft to move said pinioninto and out of mesh with said gear, a switch for said starter motor,control means for jointly closing said switch and moving said pinioninto mesh with said gear, a spring for moving said pinion out of meshwith said gear upon release of said control means, and means forengaging said two clutch members when said pinion is moved out of meshwith said gear by said spring, said last named means being .ino'perativeto cause engagement of said two clutch members when said pinion is inmesh with said gear. I

3. An engine starting device, comprising a gear connected to an engine,a starter motor, a starter-motor-driven shaft, a clutch member rotatablewith said shaft, a second clutch member, said two clutch members havingco-operating ratchet clutch teeth, said two clutch members beingarranged to have a limited relative axial movement whereby they may beengaged and disengaged, a pinion rotatable with said second clutchmember, said first clutch member being slidable onsaid shaft to movesaid pinion into and out of mesh with said gear, means tending to holdsaid two clutch mem-- bers either in or out of engagement, a switch forsaid starter motor, control means for for engaging said two clutchmembers when 7. An engine starting device, comprisinga said pinion 1smoved out of mesh witlrsaid gear. connected to anengine, a startermotor, a gear. starter-motor-driven shaft, a clutch member .4.- Anengine starting device, comprising rotatable with said shaft, a secondclutch a gear connected to an engine, a starter 1110- member, said twoclutch members being artor, a starter-motor-driven shaft, a clutchranged to have a limited relative axial movemember rotatable withsaidshaft, a second ment whereby they may beengaged and dis clutch member,.said two clutch members engaged, a pinion rotatable with said secondhav ing co-operating ratchet clutch teeth, clutch member, said firstclutch member said two clutch members being arranged to being slidableon said shaft to move said have a limited. relative axial movementpinion into and out of mesh with said gear,

whereby they may be enga ed and disena switch for said starter motor,control gaged, a. pinion rotatable with said second means for jointlyclosing said switch and clutch member, said first clutch member bemovingsaid pinion into mesh with said ing slidable on said shaft to move saidpingear, and means for engaging, said two ion into and out of mesh withsaid gear, clutch members when saidpinion is moved a switch for saidstarter motor, control out of mesh with said gear, said last named gear,and means for engaging said two pinion is in mesh with said gear. 1.clutch members when said pinion is moved out of mesh with-saidgear,said last named in claim 5 with the addition of a spring means forjointly closing'said switch and means being inoperative to cause engagemoving said pinion into mesh with said ment of said two clutch memberswhen said '8. An engine starting device as set forth means beinginoperative to cause engagetending to move saidpinion out of mesh mentof said two clutch members when said with saidgear. pinion is'in meshwlth said gear. 9. An engine starting device as set forth 5. An enginestarting device, comprising in claim 6 with the addition of a spring agear connected to an engine, a starter. tending to move said pinion outof mesh motor, a starter-motor-driven shaft, a clutch with said gear.member rotatable with said shaft, a second 10. In combination, arotatable shaft, a clutch member, said two clutch members clutch memberrotatable with said shaft, having co-operating ratchet clutch teeth, asecond clutch member, said two clutch said two clutch members beingarranged members being arranged to have a limited to have a limitedrelative axial movement relative axial movement whereby. they maywhereby they may be engaged and disenbe engaged and disengaged, a pinionrotatgaged, a pinion rotatable with said second able with said secondclutch member, clutch member, said first clutch member said clutchmembers and said pinion being being slidable on said shaft to move saidaxially slidable on said shaft, means for pinion into and outof meshwith said gear, moving said clutch members and .pinion means for movingsaid pinion into and out axially of said shaft from and to a predeterofmesh with said gear, and means for enmined normal position, and meansfor engaging said two clutch members after said gaging said two clutchmembers when they pinion is moved out of mesh with said gear are movedto such normal position, said last said last named meansbeinginoperative to named means being inoperative to cause cause engagementof said two clutch memengagement of said" two clutch members bers whensaid-pinion is in mesh with said when they and said pinion are out ofsuch gear. normal position.

6. An engine starting device, comprising 11. In combination, a rotatabledriving a gear connected to an engine, a starter clutch member, a secondclutch member, said motor, a starter-motor-driven shaft, a clutch twoclutch members being arranged to have member rotatable with said shaft,a second a limited relative axial movement whereby clutch member, saidtwo clutch members they may be engaged and disengaged, a

being arranged to have a limited relative driven member rotatable withsaid'second axial movement whereby they may be clutch members, saidclutch members and engaged and disengaged, a pinion rotatable saiddriven member being axially slidable with said second clutch member,said first on said shaft, means for moving said clutch clutch memberbeing slidable on said shaft members and driven members axially of tomove said pinion into and out of mesh said shaft from and to' apredetermined with said gear, means for moving said pinnormal position,and means for engaging ion into and out of mesh with said gear, said twoclutch members when they are and means for "engaging said two clutchmoved to such normal position, said last members after said pinion ismoved out of named means being inoperative to cause mesh with said gear,said last named means engagement of said two clutch members beinginoperative tov cause engagement of when they and said pinion are out ofsuch said two clutch members when said pinion normal position.

is in mesh with said gear. 12. In combination, a rotatable shaft, a

clutch member rotatable with said shaft, a

- second clutch member, said two clutch members having co-operatingratchet teeth, said two clutch members being arranged to have a limitedrelative axial movement whereby they may be engaged and disengaged, a

pinion rotatable with said second clutch member, said clutch members andsaid pinion being axially sIidable on said shaft,

means for moving said clutch members and pinion axially of said shaftfrom and to a predeterminednormal position, and means for engaging saidtwo clutch members whenbers when they and said pinion are out of suchnormal position. y

13. An engine starting device, comprising a gear connected to an engine,a starter motor, a starter-motor-driven shaft, a clutch member rotatablewith said shaft, a second clutch member, said two clutch members beinarranged to have a limited relative axial movement whereby they, may beengaged and disengaged,- a pinion rotatable with said second clutchmember, said first clutch member being slidable on said shaft .to movesaid pinion into and out of mesh with said gear, means for moving saidpinion into and out of mesh with said gear, means forengaging said twoclutch members after said pinion is moved out of mesh with said gear,and means for preventing engagement of said two clutch members untilafter said gear and pinion have been disengaged.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Indianapolis,Indiana, this 15th day 'of April, A. D. one thousand nine hun-' dred andtwenty seven.

DALMAR T. BROWNLEE.

